What to Know about Permanent Residence Medical Exams

June 19, 2012
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There are many different aspects of the application process for immigration into the United States. One of the lesser known portions of the process is the medical exam. Anyone that is applying for permanent resident status will be required to undertake the so-called “green card medical exam.” The test will be performed by a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services-approved physician. The medical exam has been in place for years, and was originally started in order to attempt to prevent any sort of communicable disease from entering the country and posting a potential health hazard to other citizens. If, at any point during the exam, the physician finds a certain condition on the medical inadmissibility list, then the applicant will be denied a green card, and will be found ineligible for permanent residence in the United States. There are 4 distinct categories that disqualifying conditions can fall under. They are lack of vaccinations, drug abuse, communicable diseases, and physical and/or mental disorders. There are several different conditions under each category that can disqualify an applicant as well. For communicable diseases, some of the ones tested for are syphilis, leprosy, and tuberculosis. Lack of vaccinations can trip up a lot of people, as sometimes it can be difficult getting a hold of immunization records. The physician will request to see them, and if no records are available, the application can be denied. The physical and mental disorders will be determined by the physician during the course of the exam, and will be based on whether the physician thinks that any potential disorders could put the individual or others at risk. Make sure that you speak with an immigration attorney before the medical exam to make sure that you have all the required paperwork, and are prepared for what will happen during the interview. As a final note, the medical evaluations are valid for 12 months.

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